Straight-bar knitting machine



June 22, 1948. w. A. COOPER ETAL STRAIGHT-BAR KNITTING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 28, 194? ITToFA/EYJ June 22, 1948- I w, COOPER r 2,443,813

STRAIGHT-BAR KNITTING MACHINE v 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 28, 1947 16 I Fig.5. I

Fig 4.

W Y fi Fig 8.

William ZrZ-fiur Cooper, J IrneJZ' Jim-Z.

3 iay a M M A Tia/FIVE Y5 .w. A. COOPER ErAL' 3,813

STRAIGHT-BAR KNITTING MACHINE June 22, 1948.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 28, 1947 m, A. $2 5 5 Wm 3 VA W A 1 J m F h 3 When the sliding instruments 3 have been advanced as described the yarn is kinked around the end thereof and pressed in between the fixed instruments i the sliding instruments 3 being then left in their forward position until it is necessary to bring the trapping mechanism into operation again. When the yarn has been disposed in the trapping mechanism as described it is severed between the trapping mechanism and the work. For this purpose a cutter is provided. The cutter comprises a sliding member 7, shown detached in Fig. '7, mounted in tricks in the sinker sley 2 and having a cutting edge 8 on its front end and a butt 9 on its rear end of the same height as that on the dividing sinkers. To advance the cutter '1 at .the appropriate time the butt 9 (see Fig. 6) thereon is engaged by the catch bar H] of the machine and advanced to sever the yarn at the same time as the dividing sinkers are advanced by the catch bar it to divide the loops sunk on the needles during the laying of the course in which a thread carrier is put out of action and moved to an inoperative position. The cutter 1 may be actuated by the catch bar ill each motion thereof or it may be actuated when required by providing it with a shorter but-t that the dividing sinkers and lowering the catch bar'to engage therewith when it is desired to actuate the cutter. The cutter 7 is disposed alongside a fixed instrument I and in order .to hold it up to its work so as to sever the yarn it may slide between two fixed instruments as shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

In order to withdraw the sliding instruments 3 into an inoperative position they are provided with butts H (see Fig. 6) on their inner ends. Separate mechanism may be provided for engaging therewith to retract them when necessary or they may be. engaged by and withdrawn by the catch bar It. In the latter case the butts ii are made the same height as those on the jack sinkers and provision is made for leaving them in their forward position after trapping the yarn as previously described. For this purpose the front lip of the catch bar i0 is provided with a movable section it and this movable section 12 is raised into an inoperative position when it is desired to leave the sliding instruments 3 in their advanced or trapping position. The movable section I? may be arranged so that it is moved into its inoperative position by the thread carrier when the latter moves into its inoperative position and be retained in its inoperative position until such time as the thread carrier is again brought into operation.

In a straight-bar knitting machine forknitting the heel tabs of a fully fashioned stocking as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 10 of the drawings the latter arrangement forms a imple and convenient method of raising the movable section l2 to an inoperative position. In machines of the kind referred to, two groups of needles and associated knitting elements are provided, and associated with each group of needles is a slur cock and at least one thread carrier. The thread carriers and slur cock associated with each group of needles traverse in opposite directions and at the completion of the heel tabs the thread carriers finish at the inner ends of the rows of needles. In the drawings only one thread carrier 5 is shown in connection with each group of needles. Referring to Fig. 2, the thread carriers 5 normally engage at the inner ends of their traverse with stops I3 during the knitting of the heel tabs. When the thread carriers commence their last traverse to lay the last course of the heel tabs the stops I3 arewithdrawn and the thread carriersmove beyond their normal position and .come to rest in the position shown in Fig. 8. The movable part I 2 of the catch bar In associated with each group of needles is carried by an arm l4 pivoted to the arm I5 normally provided to carry one end of the catch bar It. In order to lift the movable part I2 when the thread carriers 5 go out of action, each arm I4 is provided with a forward extension it and the thread carriers 5 have an abutment I l secured thereto which engages under the extension l6 and lifts the latter, and consequently the movable part I! of the catch bar I0, when the thread carriers 5 move into the position shown in Fig. 8 and indicated by the broken lines in Fig. 2.

As the thread carriers move into their inoperative positions the threads carried thereby are laid in the openings 4 in the upper edges of the fixed instruments I across which the thread carriers pass. The slur cock associated with each group of needles traverses a short distance behind the thread carriers and operates the jacks 6a to advance the jack sinkers in well known manner. Before the slur cock reaches the end of its traverse it operates the jacks 6 (see Fig. 4) and advances the sliding members 3 to trap the threads as previously described. On the forward movement of the catch bar to advance the dividing sinkers the cutter 1 is advanced and the thread severed from the work. As the movable part l2 of the catch bar I0 is raised out of action by the thread carriers the sliding instruments 3 remain in their forward position when the catch bar I0 is withdrawn during the subsequent knitting of the last course drawn on the needles and remain in this position until the thread carriers are moved into operation again to commence knitting another pair of heel tabs.

In order that the thread carriers 5 can be moved into their operative position again whilst the sliding instruments 3 are in their forward position openings 18 are provided at the appropriate points in the upper edges thereof so that the thread carriers can pass across them without fouling them.

In order to withdraw the stops l3 at the appropriate time to permit of the thread carriers moving into their inoperative positions the stops !3 are mounted on sliding members I9. Each sliding member I9 is longitudinally adjusted to withdraw the stops It by a stud 20 on the pattern chain 2| of the machine. For this purpose the slides H! are connected to arms 22 secured to a sleeve 23 (see Fig. 9) carried in a bearing in the fixed bracket 24. Associated with one of the arms 22 is second arm '25 which is connected by a link 26 to a lever 21 which is actuated by the stud 20 on the pattern chain 2|.

The thread carriers 5 are mounted on bars 28 which are reciprocated in well known manner by the draw mechanism of the machine. The thread carriers engage frictionally with the respective bars 28 and in order to hold the thread carriers in their inoperative positions, whilst the machine completes the necessary motions to 'pressofi the complete heel tabs and to turn the machine into the correct position to receive another stocking blank for the knitting thereto 0f the heel tabs, locking mechanism is provided. The locking mechanism comprises a locking lever 29 associated with each thread carrier. The locking levers are normally held in an inoperative position as shown in Fig. 1 and are lowered when the thread carriers move into their inoperative positions to engage with abutments 30 provld'edior the purpose thereon; anti as: shown; inFig. 8. The levers 29 aresecured on a. shaft 3| (see- Fig. 9). carried. by the sleeve 23 and a spring 3221 is provided to move them into their operative positions at the appropriate time. The levers 29: are normally held in an inoperative position by one. arm 33 of a :bell' crank lever'whichr engagesunder one of-the levers. 29; The other arm 34. of: the bell crank lever is connected by a link 3511 (see Fig. v1) to a lever 36; associated: with the pattern chains 2|. The lever 36 isnor mally: held. down by .a springuand: the lever 36 raised to. release the locking levers 29 by a stud 3-l on' the pattern chainllt i In order that theyarn will be trapped between. the sliding'instruments and the fixedinstruments the latter may have their outer ends thickened as: shown in Figs. '2 and: 42 to provide the necessary gripping action. Alternatively the outer ends of the fixed. instrumentsnmaycompriseitwos spring blades which are setso that the instruments are formedwith fork shaped-ends as :shown intEignl3 and the blades of-one=instrument press on the blades-on. the adjacent instruments. With this: arrangement the yarn can be pressed in betweenetheblades by the sliding instruments and will be retained between the bladeswhen the sliding instruments are withdrawn and =consequently, the trapping mechanismcan' be used to holdponeiormorezyarns and so serve one or more threawoarriers. i

. When, the trapping mechanism isused to hold the. threads; of more than one thread carrier; as ion example inlthe case of a straight banknit ting machine for knitting the leg, instep and sole portion; of a: stocking, provision must be made for. withdrawing: the sliding instruments just prior to a thread carrier going out of action and to advance theml totrap the thread as previously described after the thread carrier has laid its thread across the fixed instruments and to leave the sliding instruments in theiradvanced or trapping position until the trapping mechanism isbrought into action-again. The movable section of the catch bar which engages with the butts on the sliding members and the cutter mayconveniently be controlled-from the pattern chain of the machine asshow-n in 'Fig; 11, so that the movable section of the catch'bar can be' raised out of action or loweredinto action when desired; "The movable section l20f the catch bar is carried'by a pivoted arm I4 as described in connection with the previous arrangement. The arm l-d-isprovidedwith a forward extension I E which-is raised to move the section l2 into an inoperative position by a bellcrank lever; the arm -38 ofwhich engages under' the extension Hi; In order toangularly adjust'the bell crank lever the other arm 39 thereof is connected by a link to 'onea-rm of abell crank lever 40; the other arm of which is=connected by-a link M to a lever actuated by a stud- 43 on'the pattern chain 2l' of themachine so thatwhilst a stud remains under thelever 42- the movalole section 12 of thecatch bary i0 remains in an inoperative position. If preferred the mechanism can be so arrangedthatthe movable section [:2 is normally held in an inoperative position and-is lowered intoaitsloperative position when a stud on the pattern chaineengages with and raises the leverA 2.

The arrangement described forms a simple method-of automatically trapping and holding-the thread of ."a. thread carrier when the latter "moves to: inoperative position and or severing' the and: sever. the threads: of" several: thread carrierszwhieh are: put out or action at different.

timest t a I Whatwe claimtasouninrent-ionisc.

1:. At straightan knitting machine wcomprising; in: combination needles-E a thread carr ers ja k and dividing-,1 sinke rs,- means to; operate the sinkers and needles, a plurality of fixed instru-- ments acrossgwhich a thread: carrier lays its When-i moved; to, am.inoperative position, movable-z instruments adapted to press the thread solaidl in; between therfixed instruments and a. severing: device-adapted tosever the thread from thGzWQIk 2. straight-barrknitting machine comprising-1 incombination needles, a: thread carrier, jackand; dividing; sinkers; means a to operate: the sinkerstand needlea aeplunalitw of, fixed instmunents acrosswhich a. thread; carrier lays its thread: when. moved to; an: inoperative i position, movable instruments between the fixed instruments and sliding longitudinally thereof to press'the thread S01 laid in belwmeen.- the, fixedi instruments, means to operate the sliding instruments and a severing device, toysever the thread from the. work.

3. A straight bart knitting machinel comprising, in; combination, needles, a thread carrier, vjack anddividingsinkers, means to operate the sinkers and needles, a plurality of, fixed instruments across'which athreadlcarrier lays its. threadwhen moved; to. anv inoperative position, movableinstruments. tdpress, the thread so laidin between the fixed. instruments. means. to operate the movable instrum'entsya mem'herhaving a cutting edge thereon and means to move it" longitudinally of the fixed instruments to sever" the thread from the'work. w

4: A" straight bar knitting machine comprising combination, needles, a" thread carrier, jack an'dwiividing sinkers in a sinker sley, means-to operate the sinkersand needles,- a pluralityof fixed instruments mounted in the sinker sley', movable" instruments slidably mounted; in the sinker 'sley between the fixedinstruments, means to operate the movable, instruments; topress in between" the fixed instruments a thread laid across: the latter when a ,threadcarrier goes out of action; a mernberfhavingacutting edge thereon"slidably mountedin"thersinker sley and means tooperate: the latter to' sever the thread; from the work.

-52 straight-barv knitting-machine comprising in? combination; needles: a thread carrier; jack and dividing sinkers, a-slur cock; jacks to ad'- vance'thei jack-'sinkers; a catch bar to advance the dividingsinkers 'anctwithdraw all -the sinkers, means to operate the catch bar, a plurality of fixedinstruments mounted-in thesinker sley, slid ing instruments disposed betweenthem to press the"threadlai-dacrossthei fixed instruments when a thread" carrier is moved to an inoperative "position in between thejfixedtinstrumentsi jacks to advancethe slidingiinstruments; butts onthe latter for the catchbar totenga'ge'with to withdraw themand a'sliding membenhaving a cutting edge thereon and aetuatedby -the catch bar-to sever the threadfrom'thework;

6. A straight-bar 'knit'ting machine comprising in" combination; needles; 2; thread carrier,v jack and dividing sinkers; a: sluncoc'k; jacks toad vance=-tlie'=jack*'sinkers-, a catch bar; means to operate the 'catch-bar ,a plurality of fixed instru ments mounted on the sinker sley, sliding instruments disposed between them, jacks to advance the latter to press the thread laid across the fixed instruments in between the latter when a thread carrier moves to an inoperative position, butts on the sliding instruments a movable section on the catch bar to engage with the butts, to withdraw the sliding members, means to move the section to an inoperative position when desired and means to sever the thread from the work.

7. A straight-bar knitting machine comprising in combination, needles, a thread carrier, sinkers, means including a catch bar to operat 'the sinkers, a plurality of fixed instruments mounted on the sinker sley, sliding instruments disposed between them, butts on the sliding instruments, a

movable section of the catch bar to engage therewith, means to advance the sliding instruments to press the thread laid across the fixed instruments, when a threadcarrier goes out of action, in between the fixed instruments, an abutment on the thread carrier to engage with the movable section and move it into an-inoperative position when the thread carrier moves to an inoperative position and means to sever the thread from the work.

8. A straight-bar knitting machine comprising in combination, needles, a thread carrier, sinkers, means including a catch bar to operate the sinkers, a plurality of fixed instruments mounted in the sinker sley, sliding instruments disposed between them, butts on the sliding instruments, a movable section of the catch bar to engage therewith carried by a pivoted arm, means to advance the sliding instruments to press the thread, laid across the fixed instruments when a thread carrier goes out of action, in between the fixed instruments, an abutment on the thread carrier to engage with th arm and raise the movable catch bar section to an inoperative position when the thread carriermoves-to an inoperative position and means to sever the thread from the work.

9. A straight-bar knitting machine comprising in combination, needles, a thread carrier, sinkers, means including a catch bar to operate the sinkers, a plurality of fixed instruments mounted in the sinker sley, sliding instruments disposed be.- tween them, butts on the sliding instruments, a movable section of the catch bar to engage therewith carried by a pivoted arm, means to advance the sliding instruments to press the thread,'laid across the fixed instruments when a thread carrier goes out ofv action, in between the fixed'instruments, a lever operated by a stud on the pattern chain of the machine to raise the movable catch bar section to an inoperative position when the thread carrier movesto an inoperative position and means to sever the thread from the work.

10. A straight-bar knitting machine comprising in combination, needles, a thread carrier, jack anddividing sinkers, means to operate the sinkers and needles, a plurality of fixed instruments, openings in the upper edges thereof in ,whichthe thread. is laid when the thread carrier moves to an inoperative position, movable instruments between the fixed instruments, means to operate the movable instruments to press thethread in between the fixed instruments and asevering device adapted to sever the thread from-the work.

e 11. .A straight-bar knitting machine comprising in combination, needles, a thread carrier,

jack and dividing is'i'nkers, means to operate the jack and dividing sinkers, means to operate the:

sinkers and needles,a plurality of fixed instruments, .forked shaped outer ends thereon across: which the thread is laid when. the thread carrier moves ,to an inoperative position, movable instruments between the fixed instruments, means to operate the latter to press the thread in between the fixed instruments and a severing. device to sever the thread from the work.

13. A straight-bar knitting machine comprising in combination, needles, a thread carrier, jack and dividing sinkers, means to operate the sinkers and needles, a plurality of fixed instruments across which the thread is laid when the thread carrier moves to an inoperative position, movable instruments between the fixed instruments, means to operate the movable instruments to press the thread in between the fixed instruments, means to sever the thread from the work and means to hold the thread carrier in an inoperative position whilst the work is pressed off the needles. 7

14. A straight-bar knitting machine comprising in combination needles, a thread carrier, jack and dividing sinkers, means to operate the sinkers and needles, a plurality of fixed instruments across which the thread is laid when the thread carrier moves to an inoperative position, movable instruments between the fixed instruments, means to operate the movable instruments to press the thread in between the fixed instruments, means to sever the thread from the work, an abutment on the thread carrier, a lever to engage with the abutment and hold the thread carrier in an inoperative position and means to move the lever to an inoperative position at the appropriate time to release the thread carrier.

15. A straight-bar knitting machine comprising in combination, a needle bar, needles carried thereby, two groups of jack and dividing sinkers, a thread carrier to each group, means to operate the sinkers, a plurality of fixed instruments disposed at the inner end of each group of sinkers, movable instruments between the fixed instruments, means to operate the movable instruments to press in between the, fixed instruments the thread laid across each group of the latter when the thread carriers are moved to an inoperative position between the groups of sinkers and means associated with each group of fixed instruments to sever the thread from the work.

WILLIAM ARTHUR COOPER. ERNEST START.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

v UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

